Why is the bike so heavy?

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by GatorGreg, Sep 16, 2016.

  1. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2016
    Messages:
    1,984
    Likes Received:
    342
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Orlando
    Map
    Trying to figure out why our bike is so heavy compared to a CBR1000RR. I know it's not fair to compare a SuperSport to a sports-tourer, but I can't help but notice our bike is 88 pounds heavier. The '15 1000RR (no abs) weighs 440.9, I'll call it 441 pounds, and the '15 base Interceptor (no abs, center stand, etc) weighs 529 pounds. These are wet weights and the Interceptor has a bit bigger fuel tank (5.2 v. 4.6 gallons) so maybe roughly 8 of the 88 pound difference can be attributed to the bigger/heavier tank and fuel load it holds, but where is the rest of the weight coming from? Does the extra wheelbase of the Interceptor (57.4" v. 55.5") mean there's just more bike and thus it will weigh a chunk more or is the 1000RR just made of ultralightweight materials compared to the Interceptor?

    I'm not really complaining because the only time I notice the weight is when I'm maneuvering my Interceptor around in my garage, but I'm still curious why she's so "thick" lol
     
  2. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    Messages:
    7,831
    Likes Received:
    90
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    Colorado Front Range
    Map
    Single sided swing arm, V4, & more robust subframe.
     
  3. Arnzinator

    Arnzinator New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    Messages:
    1,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Central Massachusetts
    Map
    My guess is the big difference is in engine weight.
     
  4. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    Engine weight, frame, dual radiators, sub frame, gas tank, and exhaust for a start. I got my CBR 1000rr to 420 wet.
     
  5. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2016
    Messages:
    1,984
    Likes Received:
    342
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Orlando
    Map
    -Forgot about the sssa - how much extra weight would you estimate is attibutable to that?

    -Are you saying the V4 is an inherently heavier design than an inline 4, all else being equal? Or is our V4 just not made to be all that lightweight? Is the V4 engine in the uber-expensive RC213V-S of comparable weight to our Interceptor's V4 or is it significantly lighter even though it's more cc's than our Interceptor's V4? I know the bike is over a hundred pounds lighter overall but I'm wondering how the engine weights compare.

    Speaking of the 1000RR, I'm seeing what look like legit spy shot articles about the 2017 CBR1000RR popping up recently:

    http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactu...y&utm_source=relatedscout&utm_content=title-3
     
  6. Arnzinator

    Arnzinator New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    Messages:
    1,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Central Massachusetts
    Map
    The V4's two cylinder heads, valve covers, 4 cams, multiple cam chains & related hardware will add up to more weight than an inline 4's single head, valve cover & two cams, single cam chain etc. Not to mention the V-tec hardware not present on the 1000R's valve train.
     
  7. wiremanjon

    wiremanjon New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2016
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Morris County, New Jersey
    Map
    Center stand weighs a few pounds too.
     
  8. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    When Aprillia came out with the RSV 4 I was surprised that it weighed so much on such a light weight bike. Then as mentioned by you it made sense. But I still want a V4 super bike.
     
  9. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    3,569
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Winnipeg, MB
    Map
    I know sitting side-by-side that my VFR is physically larger than my buddies CBR 929 as well.

    They are completely different beasts. Like others have said though, the biggest differences are the single-sided swingarm, center stand, the dual radiators and the V4 engine configuration. And on the 6th gen you also talking about dual exhaust vs. single.
     
  10. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    3,569
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Winnipeg, MB
    Map
    Let's pray for a revival of the RVF
     
  11. Lint

    Lint Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    4,805
    Likes Received:
    950
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley, Ca.
    Map
    Which God do you recommend?
     
  12. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    3,569
    Likes Received:
    76
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Winnipeg, MB
    Map
    The MotoGP God

    Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
     
  13. Lint

    Lint Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    4,805
    Likes Received:
    950
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley, Ca.
    Map
    Oh MotoGP God,
    We beg your forgiveness for Jorge Lorenzo and ask for your mercy upon us, as we are not Spanish. We beseech thee to grant us your blessings and favor and humbly request that Honda is made to remember that at one time they were a real motorcycle company that built performance machines for us common folk and implore you to bequeath upon us a new highly updated RVF1000. We promise to continue cheering Marquez and Rossi and even Pedrosa and pray our sacrifices will be pleasing in your eyes, and thus grant us our wish. Additionally we promise to use synthetic oil and only name brand tires. Amen.
     
  14. RVFR

    RVFR Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2006
    Messages:
    8,006
    Likes Received:
    265
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Olympia Wa.
    Map
    Well if Aprilia can get the Tuono which is an 1100 to roughly 470lbs wet, Aprilia has it at 408 dry. There's no reason we shouldn't be able to reach that number. I know when there's next to no fuel, -35 lbs. in the tank, it's even more fun. Yea the CBR just is lighter, yet when i look it over it shouldn't be all that much, yet, it is. Guess it's a case of a pound here, a pound there, hard to gather the sssa verses traditional swing arms is that much when you look at these new arms. still ???
     
  15. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    Great, way to screw it up! It's ATGATT not Amen!
     
  16. Lint

    Lint Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    4,805
    Likes Received:
    950
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley, Ca.
    Map
    Damn it. Forgive me, I'm new. :crushed:
     
  17. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,384
    Likes Received:
    324
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Utah
    Map
    Gatorgreg, I would think that a single swing arm would lower the weight slightly and I mean 2-3pounds. I agree that this bike was not designed to lose the classic ( 7lbs lost=1 hp) like the sudo super sport replicas. Costing mucho of dollars to do so. Also they are taking in the sales aspect of unit to unit sales. We ride a bike that has a low sales compared to your comparison bikes! Hench the reason I bought my 2014 and others for $8000 on the "F" model or less and not $12,999! Overly engineered bikes like ours and BMW’s always are heavier. I do not know why, but great engines weigh more than others and killer. I know that the 2014-2015 lost 30lbs over previous generations, which we would hope that would transfer to HP, and top end. Not the case, Honda actually made these bikes even with less weight to have less top end from previous generations. If I read the press right. My take and maybe Honda's was being more fuel efficient? All I know is that I am new to the V4 world and I love the bike. My last bike that I sold 3yrs ago was a 2003 Suzuki Sv1000s, V-twin grunt and weight was 417 dry and had 213 Hp. Loved it, miss it, but this bike is so much more even with the weight (well, arguably)! I now have owned 2 inline 4’s, a V-twin and now a V4 all in the sport-touring or sport category, and I think that with age this is the best of them all! (Since I can only own 1 at a time) unlike other lucky bastards with their garages. ;-)
     
  18. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    Messages:
    7,831
    Likes Received:
    90
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    Colorado Front Range
    Map
    There is much documentation on the interwebz about the sssa being heavier than a traditional style. It has to be significantly more robust to prevent twisting. The racers don't like the added weight and you don't have the sssa in racing.
     
  19. Hotbrakes

    Hotbrakes New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2008
    Messages:
    450
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Richmond, VA
    As mentioned before, the subframe. There's probably 20lbs of difference.
    The chassis in general has less R&D put into making it lighter, and the payload I'd venture to say is higher so the entire chassis must be beefed up. But to keep costs down, lower quality metallurgical components are used with less overall engineering beyond strength to do the job, not win world championships.

    Sent from my SM-T567V using Tapatalk
     
  20. Lint

    Lint Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    4,805
    Likes Received:
    950
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley, Ca.
    Map

    Wow, I want one!!! :black_eyed:
     
Related Topics

Share This Page